Electrically propelled and steered torpedo



mam Ksem (No Modeh) M 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. S. SIMS.

ELEGTRIGALLY PROPELLED AND STEERED TORPEDO.

Paten ted Apr. 21,1891.

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@513 M attozmm w (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. W. S. SIMS.

ELEGTRIGALLY PROPELLED AND STEERED TORPEDO.

Patented Apr. 21, 1891.

(June/whoa @Yc g. m g.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VINFIELD S. SIMS, OF NElVARK, NEW JERSEY.

ELECTRICALLY PROPELLED AND STEERED TORPEDO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 450,875, dated April 21, 1891.

Application filed December 22, 1890. Serial No. 375,417. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WINFIELD S. SIMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and use- 7 ful Improvement in Torpedoes Propelled and Steer-ed by Electricity, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of torpedoes which are submerged or partially submerged in the water and which are propelled by an electric motor on the torpedo by means of a cable leading from said motor to a generator on the shore or on any suitable support external to the torpedo.

The present invention is an improvement on the devices described and claimed in my patent, No. 319,633, dated J one 9, 1885; and the invention consists in improved devices for controlling the motor and steering-magnet circuits, in means for controlling the firing or exploding circuit, and in certain combinations and devices hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the improvements, Figure l is a view of my torpedo, the shell being in section. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the circuits and general arrangement of devices on the torpedo, the conductors extending from the torpedo to the shore, and the generators and switches at the generator-station. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the relay which I employ for controlling the circuits to the steering-magnets. Fig. 4: is a perspective view of one of the steering-magnets and a circuit-controller operated thereby. Fig. 5 shows a portion of a circuit-controller.

The main features of construction in'the torpedo herein shown are substantially the same as in my patent above referred to.

1 is a fioat in the shape of a boat, below which the torpedo 2 is supported by the braces 3. This torpedo made of a metal shell, prefcrably of copper and nearly cylindrical in cross-section, being made up in sections of convenient length secured together by suitable means. The forward brace 4 I preferably make in the form of a knife-edge, in orderthat it may cut ropes or other small obstructions against which it may strike. The

float carries two or any suit-able number of signal balls, disks, or other devices 5, supported on pivoted rods 6. These serve to indieate'the position of the torpedo when the rest is entirely submerged. Should the torpedo strike a log or other obstruction when under way, the inclined edge of the brace a would cause it to sink still farther into the water and the torpedo would pass under the obstruction, the arms 6 being at the same time turned on their pivots, moving the signal balls or disks so that they rest in the sockets 7 provided for them in the top of the float.

8 is the electric motor for driving the propeller 9 by means of the shaft 10. The armature-shaft is extended and carries a wormgear 11, which engages with a corresponding gear 12. This latter gear is provided with a projecting pin 13. The wheel 12 is supported on a stud or shaft 12, Fig. 5, and can turn thereon.

' 12" is a spring which presses a washer against the wheel. The position of arm 13 can be changed before the torpedo is launched by raising the wheel 12 against the force of the spring, turning the wheel on the stud, and then moving it back into engagement with gear 11. Adjacent to said wheel is a circuit-controller consisting of a stationary spring-terminal 14 and a movable terminal 15. The terminal 14: is eonnectedto a normally-open contactlti on the firing-relay 17. The magnet 18 of this relay is connected directly in the motor-circuit, and the armature 19 is connected to the fuse for exploding the charge of the torpedo.

20 is the cable connecting the motor and the generator. This is coiled in one section of the torpedo and uncoiled as the torpedo moves away from the shore. This cable carries two conductors, as indicated at 21 22 in the diagram, and the conductors are preferably arranged in the cable coi'ioentrically. One conductor is comparatively small, and consists of several fine wires twisted together and surrounded by insulating material. The other conductor, which is of greater capacity, consists of alarger number of fine wires wound in long spirals around said insulated conductor, and are in turn covered with insulatconnected with 41.

ing material. This construction not forming a part of the invention is not shown in detail.

23 is the chamber in which the dynamite or other explosive is placed, and 21L is an electrically-operated exploding device therefor of any suitable construction.

At the right of the motor are steering-11mgnets 25, only one pair of magnets being shown in Fig. l; but it will appear from Fig. 2 that there are two magnets. These magnets are rigidlysupported, one on one side and one on the other side of the shaft 10. In front of each magnet is a sliding armature 26, connected by means of a roc 27 to one end of a cross-rod 28, which is rigidly connected to a post 29, carrying the rudder 30. The connection between the armatures and the rudderpost is practically the same as in the patent above referred to.

31 is a tube through which the cable passes as it is uncoiled during progress of the torpedo. This tube is longer than heretofore described by me, being carried to the rear of the propeller. This is found advisable in order to prevent any possibility of the cable being caught by the propeller, thereby interfering with the progress of the torpedo.

Referring to Fig. 3, 32 is a suitable base on which the electro-magnets 18', the permanent magnet 33, its polarized armatures 34 35, and the bar 36 are mounted. The polarized armatures 34: 35 have extensions 37 38, which are preferably of brass, and retracting-springs 39 normally hold said extensions against the insulated binding-posts 40 41, carried by the arm 36. 42 is an insulated binding-post connected with post t0, and 43 is a. similar post 44: 4.5 are binding-posts carried by the arm 36, and i6, 47, and 48 are insulated binding-posts on the base.

Referring now to Fig. 4, it will be seen that the steering-magnet 25, in addition to the armature 26, connected to the rudder, has a sec- 0nd armature 49. This armature is smaller and much more delicate than the steeringarmature. It is carried on a rod or bar 50, pivoted at 51. At its outer end it carries an insulated sleeve 52, to which is connected a binding-post 53. 5 is a second binding-post connected with spring 55, which is adapted to bear on said sleeve, whereby posts 53 and 5t will be connected; but when said sleeve is moved to the leftthe circuit will be broken. 56 is a resistance-coil one end of which is connected to the post 42 and one end of which is connected to the post 54. This resistance I usually make about equal to that of one of the steering-magnets.

In Fig. 2, 57 is the dynamo supplying current to propel and steer the torpedo, and is provided with a current-reversing switch 58. 59 is a battery for controlling the relay-magnets 18, and is provided with a reversingswitch 60.

The operation and the several circuit-connections will now be described with special reference to Fig. 2. \Vhen it. is desired to propel the torpedo, the switch 58 is closed in such direction that the current proceeding over conductor 22 will hold the armature 19 against its back-stop-that is, in the position occupied by the armature in the drawings. The current proceeds to post 42, where it finds two paths, one to post 40, arm 37, and wire 37, or, in the apparatus actually used, through the base to arm 38, post 41, motor 8, and to earth. This ground is ordinarily the shell of the torpedo, which is immersed in the water. This branch divides near the post 40, one branch being as above indicated and the other extending to the steering-magnet 25 and to wire It will be seen that the steering-magnets 0/ are thus short-circuited. The second branch is from post42 through resistance 56 and post 54 to wire 37. It will beseen that this resistance is in a shunt cut-out or safety circuit around the contact between arm 37 and post 40 to protectthe steering-circuit. Said resistance is for the purpose of protecting the contact at said point from the destructive effect of very heavy currents, such as used for propelling torpedoes.

In torpedoes heretofore made by me it has been found that the steering apparatus becomes somewhat unreliable after the torpedo has been in operation for a short time, owing to the fact that the contacts of the controlling-relay become roughened byarcing or fusion and stick together, so that it is impossible to properly direct the current to steer the torpedo.

\Vhen it is desired to energize the starboard steering-magnet 25, the switch (50 is turned onto the contacts in the proper position to energize magnet 18 to move the pole S toward the right, thereby breaking the contact between 37 40. This opens the short circuit around the starboard steering-magnet; but since the current from the dynamo still has two paths the said stecringunaguet is not energized sufficiently to operate the rudder. It is, however, sufficiently energized to attract it's armature lftthereby tiltingthelever50and breaking contact between it and the post 5st, thus throwing the entire current through the starboard steei-ingniagnet; but since the circuit through 37 a0 was broken first the contacts were protected from injury. If it were desired to energize the port steering-magnet, the switch 60 would be movedin the opposite direct-ion, whereby the pole N of magnet 18 would be moved to the right and the short circuit around the port steering-magnet would be open, as above described in connection with the starboard steering-magnet.

Heretofore there has been danger of premature explosions of the torpedo, owing to accidental closures of the circuit leading to the fuse. In order to prevent such explosion before the torpedo has proceeded to a safe distance from operators on shore, I provide the circuit-controller Ill-'15. The gear between the motor-shaft and the wheel 12 is so proportioned that the motorshaft makes a large number of revolutions for example, three hundredbefore the wheel 12 moves far enough to bring arm 13 against the movable part 15 of the circuit controller, throwing the same onto contact 1 1. If it should be desired to close the circuit before the motor had made three hundred revolutions, the wheel 12 could be turned so as to bring the pin 13 to the position indicated by 13 before the torpedo is started. After the circuit is closed between 14: 15 the charge of the torpedo can be exploded by reversing the current of the dynamo by means of switch 238. This throws the armature 19 against contact 16, closing the branch circuit from the con-,

ductor 22 to 15 1.4. 16 19, to the fuse, and to earth.

It will be seen that by the arrangement of circuits and devices above described all danger of losing control of the steering apparatus by reason of fusion between the contacts 37 a0 is avoided, the normal resistance of the motor-circuit is reduced, and all danger of premature explosion is absolutely avoided.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is- 1. The combination, with a torpedo, of a steering-magnet, an electrical generator, a relay for directing current through the steer ing-magnet, a resistance in a shunt around the relay-contacts, and means for opening the shunt after the relay-contacts are separated, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a torpedo, of a steering-magnet, an electrical generator, a relay for directing current through the steering-magnet, a resistance in a shunt around the relay-contacts, and an auxiliary armature operated by the steering-magnet and acting to open the shunt after the relay-contacts are separated, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a torpedo having a suitable propeller, an electric motor on the torpedo for driving the propeller, and a conductor connected to the motor and to an external generator, of steeringmagnets connected to the 1notorcircuit, but normally shunted or short-circuited, means for opening the short circuit, a resistance around the short-circuit contacts, and a circuit-breaker for opening the circuit through said resistance, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with a torpedo having a suitable propeller, an electric motor on the torpedo-for d riving he propeller, and a conductor connected to the motor and to an external generator, of steering-magnets connected to the motor-circuit, but normally shunted or short-eircuited, means for opening the short-circuit, a resistance around the short-circuit contacts, a circuit-breaker, and an armature adjacent to a steering-magnet and connected to the circuit-breaker for mov' ing the same, thereby open-ing the circuit rhrough said resistance, substantially as described.

5. The combination of a steering-magnet, an armature therefor connected with the rudder, an armature requiring less power to move it than the first. armature, but controlled by a magnet in the same circuit as the magnet 0f the first armature, and a circuit-controller in a cut-out or safety circuit and operated by the second armature, substantially as described.

6. The combination of a steering-magnet, an armature therefor connected with the rudder, a circnit-controlling armature requiring less power to move it than the first armature, a shunt to the steering-magnet, and a circuitcontroller in the shunt operated by said second armature, substantially as described.

'7. The combination of a steering-magnet, an armature therefor connected with the rudder, and a circuit-controlling armature also operated by the steering-magnet and requiring less power to move it than the first armature, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with a boat or torpedo, of a rudder for the boat, electro-magnets for moving the rudder, and two shunts or short circuits for each electro-magnet, and circuitcontrollers for said shunts, substantially as described.

9. The combination, with a boat orrorpedo having a suitable propeller, an electric motor on the boat for driving the propeller, and a conductor connected to the motorand to an external generator, of a rudder, eleetro-Inagnets therefor, and two shunts or short circuits for each electro-magnet, one shunt contain ing a circuit'controller operated by the steering-magnets, substantially as described.

10. The combination, with a torpedo having suitable propelling and controlling devices, of an electric exploding device for the torpedo charge, a normally-inoperative circuit to the exploding device, a circuit-controller for said circuit, and means dependent on movement of the torpedo for, operating said circuit-controller, substantially as described.

11. The combination, with a torpedo having a suitable propelling motor and controlling deviees, of an exploding device for the torpedo charge, and a normally-inoperative circuit to the exploding device open at a relay and open at a second circuit-controller, which is operated when the torpedo has moved a predetermined distance, substantially as described.

12. The combination, with a torpedo having a propelling-motor, of a relay-magnet, an armature for the relay-magnet connected to an exploding device on the torpedo, and a safety circuit-controller also in said exploding circuit, substantially as described.

13. The combination, in a torpedo, of an exploding device, a safety circuit-controller in a circuit extending to the exploding device, and means moving in accordance with the torpedo foroperatingthe cirenit-conircdie r at a predetermined time, snbsmntinliy as described.

5 14:. The combination of the steering-magn'ec, an armature therefor connected to ilie rudder, a second armature, a pivoted arm connected to said :Lrnmf-ure, and a circuit-breaker 1 in n snfoiyeircuil; carried by said nrm, substantially as described. 10

| This specification signedmld witnessed this g 17th day of Deeember,18fl0.

.VINFIELI) S. SIMS.

; \Vitnesses:

1 CHARLES H. ('ATLIN, 

